460 INDIGENOUS SAGO AND TOBACCO FROM NEW GUINEA, 



In appearance and texture it reminds one strongly of the 

 " Bath brick " so much used in England by domestics for polishing 

 purposes. It is of a light buff colour, crumbling readily in the 

 fingers into a flour. On keeping, it becomes of a light brown, or 

 even a rusty colour, on the outside. 



Mi\ Bevan tells me the sample was moist and soft and capable 

 of beins cut with a knife when he received it. In that state it is 

 ready to undergo the operation of granulating or "pearling." 



This refinement, introduced at Singapore in 1819 by Chinese 

 workmen, but in use in Malacca for many years previously, was 

 known to New Guinea natives at least as early as 1777, Captain 

 Forrest then describing the process in use, Balfour {loc. cit.) says 

 that the Malays learnt the art from the natives of Bukit Batu 

 (Siak). It therefore becomes interesting to learn how and when 

 the operation became known to the natives of New Guinea, or 

 whether in fact, the invention is owing to them. 



Every writer on the subject of sago speaks iu superlative terms 

 as to the value of the palms as a crop. The matter is so frequently 

 referred to that there is no difiiculty in getting particulars on the 

 suliject. I will content myself with quoting one recent and 

 eminent authority, viz : Mr. W. B. Pryer, Her Majesty's Consular 

 Agent for Sandakan (Borneo) and Resident in the Service of the 

 British North Borneo Company, who referred to the matter on the 

 25th October last, at a conference at the Colonial and Inrlian 

 Exhibition. After alluding to the fact that three trees yield more 

 nutritive matter than an, acre of wheat, and six trees more than an 

 acre of potatoes, he goes on to say : — " The main drawback to the 

 investment of capital in sago planting is the length of time that 

 elapses before the trees are ready to cut ; but it must be under- 

 stood that when they once commence yielding, they go on con- 

 tinually without cessation, so that the only expense attending their 

 cultivation, when once they are in bearing, is the upkeep of fencing 

 to keep out pigs. It is also to be added that the expense of 



